09/15/2026
🚨 SCAM ALERT PLEASE SHARE! 🚨
We want to make local residents and businesses aware of a fraudulent email circulating that appears to come from the Town of Somerset Zoning Board of Appeals.
The email references a property/application in Somerset and requests payment of an “Application Review and Approval Fee.” It instructs the recipient to reply to the email to obtain wire-transfer instructions and then send the wire receipt back by email.
⚠️ DO NOT SEND MONEY.
⚠️ DO NOT PROVIDE BANKING OR PERSONAL INFORMATION.
⚠️ DO NOT REPLY TO THE EMAIL.
If you receive something like this, verify it directly with the Town through an independently obtained official phone number or website — not through the contact information provided in the suspicious email.
Scammers are becoming increasingly convincing and may use real names, addresses, departments, and legitimate-looking documents to make their emails appear authentic.
Please share this post so others especially local residents, property owners, and businesses don’t fall victim.
When in doubt, stop and verify before sending any payment.
Fraud Email ———
[email protected]
Date: September 14, 2026 at 7:17 AM EDT
Subject: Application Status – 287 County Street, Somerse
External Email - Please use caution.
Town of Somerset Zoning Board of Appeals
140 Wood Street, Somerset, MA 02726
Dear Ms. Celia Martins,
I am writing regarding the application submitted in connection with the property located at 287 County Street, Somerset, MA 02726, owned by Prestige Car Wash, comprising approximately 1.51 acres.
The core request of the application is to seek relief from and overturn the enforcement order issued by the Somerset Building Commissioner. In accordance with the application review and administrative process, the attached invoice represents the Application Review and Approval Fee associated with the review, evaluation, processing, and consideration of your application.
To enable the application to proceed through the applicable approval process, we kindly request that the outstanding invoice be settled promptly. Payment of the applicable review fee is an important administrative requirement and allows the Planning and Zoning Commission and its supporting staff to undertake the necessary work associated with the application.
The application fee is important to the Planning and Zoning Commission and the broader public-interest planning process for several reasons, including:
Application review and administrative processing: The fee supports the administrative work required to receive, document, organize, and process the application and supporting materials.
Planning and zoning evaluation: It helps facilitate the professional review and evaluation of the proposal for consistency with applicable planning, zoning, land-use, and regulatory requirements.
Public hearing process: The application may require preparation, scheduling, notices, documentation, agenda coordination, and other administrative activities associated with public hearings and Commission consideration.
Expert and technical reviews: Where appropriate, applications may require review by qualified technical consultants, engineers, planners, attorneys, or other subject-matter professionals whose expertise assists the Commission in evaluating the application.
Contract staff and professional services: Applicable fees help offset costs associated with contract staff and professional services required to support the Commission's review and decision-making responsibilities.
Public accountability and regulatory administration: The fee contributes to maintaining a transparent and properly documented review process that serves both the applicant and the public.
Agenda preparation and Commission consideration: Confirmation of the required fee payment allows the application file to be appropriately updated and considered for inclusion on the Planning and Zoning Commission agenda, subject to completion of all other applicable requirements.
State and municipal regulatory interests: A properly administered application review process helps ensure that land-use matters are evaluated in an orderly manner consistent with applicable municipal regulations and broader public planning objectives.
Please note that all correspondence concerning this application and its associated fee should be communicated by email. Maintaining the correspondence electronically is necessary to facilitate accurate recordkeeping, auditing, application-file documentation, and inclusion of relevant information in the Planning and Zoning Commission agenda materials.
Next Steps
Please complete the following steps:
Reply to this email to request the wire-transfer instructions required to settle the outstanding Application Review and Approval Fee invoice.
Settle the attached invoice using the wire instructions that will be provided in response to your request.
Return the completed wire-transfer receipt by email after payment so that the payment can be confirmed and the application file updated for potential inclusion on the Planning and Zoning Commission agenda.
Please ensure that the wire receipt clearly identifies the relevant transaction so that payment can be matched to the application and invoice without delay.
We appreciate your prompt attention to this matter. Settlement of the attached invoice will allow the administrative and review process to move forward, subject to receipt of all other required application materials, reviews, notices, and approvals.
If you have any questions regarding the invoice or payment process, please reply directly to this email so that all communications remain properly documented in the application record.
Best regards,
Amy Messier
Town Planner
Town of Somerset Zoning Board of Appeals
140 Wood Street, Somerset, MA 02726
